The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-10
Mr.. Gladstone Greatly Surprised at the Read
mess with Which the Country Has Become
Educated on the Home-Rule Question.
Some of the Causes That Have Brought
About the Change in Public Opinion.
Mr. Gladstone Issues Manifesto to the Work.
iEgmen, and Mr.. Parnell Says that lie Is
Perfectly Satisfied with the Outlook.
ANTI-coERCIoN AGITATION.


An Astonishing Change in Public Sentiment
Some of the Things That Caused It.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, April 9.-The agitation throughout
Great Britain against coercion has assumed pro-
portions far beyond the expectations OF the most
saneuine Liberals. MFR. Gladstone, himself, is
surprised at the rapidity with which the country
has become educated on the homer rule question.
Mr. Schnadhoust. the Liberal caucus king. is
convinced that if general election were to oc-
cur within the next three months, which now
seems quite possible, Mr. Gladstone would re-
turn to power with handsome homs-rule ma
jority behind him. Eight months ago the
government promised that ireland Was to
be governed by the ordinary Law,
with the same rights and the same privileges as
the rest of the United Kingdom The promises
went even further than that Tenants were to
enjoy the benefits Of remedial legislation the
moment necessity for such legislation was ap-
parent. That was the programme OF the govern
ment. recorded in a. thousand speeches at the
last general election. A great many people,
who were not prepared for home rule with
rush, nevertheless considered it to be s
moderate and sensible measure. Now it
ID tuo 1diiuE0 OF tue EOVcTumeut
programme which is rapidly convincing vast
number of these people that home rule is a
necessity. The Liberals have only to point to
the history of the last six months for justifca-
ton. The facts are simple. and he who
may read. To Mr.. Parnell's demand, in Sep
tember last, for the reopening of judicial rents,
the government said that his case was not
proved; they would appoint royal commission
to investigate the matter with faith
full pledge that its Recommendations
should become law. At the same time
they send a distinguished soldier to main
tain order and inform them of the state
of certain districts. The commission reported,
and their declarations confirmed nearly all of
MIR. Parnell's assertions. Gen. Sir Redyers
Butler fell into line only with little more
emphasis. These the witnesses whom the
government themselves subpenaed. Their
evidence cannot be impeached even by the most
captious critic. They have diagnosed the
disease and pointed out its origin Yet. as the
Liberals tersely put it, both Butler and the
commission, together with their evidence, have
been utterly rejected by the government
| Many of Mr.. Chamherlain's constituents
| think it strange that he should support a coer.
cion policy, and they have lost faith in his re-
| cent utterances. He frankly reminded them
| that he voted for coercion when member OF
the government in 1880. but failed to mention
| the fact that that government left Office in
1885 he made public speech in which he con-
| demned coercion and compared the govern
| ment of Ireland by England to the government
| of Poland by Russia Mr.. Schnadhorst, in an
| interview, this evening, regarding Liberal
chances, were an immediate appeal made to the
country, said:
''The last election was largely won under false
| pretenses. Apart from the monstrous and often
| dishonest Misrepresentation os Mr.. Gladstone's
| land-purchase bill. the election was won mainly
| by insisting that the refusing of home rule did
not and would not imply coercion. and that
| Irishmen would. in future, be governed just as
| Englishmen and Scotchmen-by the ordinary
law. The Unionist theory, wheh expressed by
responsible men who knew what they were talk
ing about did not imply the ruling of Ireland as
| a subject dependency. 1t implied just the con-
trary. The electors were told that they could
both refuse what the Irish wanted,
st,tutions incidental with those of
England, and requiring for their successful
working the consent and cooperation of the
| governed. The Liberal party insist that a
! choice had been made. and that those who voted
| against home rule really voted for coercion.
The majority of the electors did not believe
them. and they certainly did not understand
that they voting for coercion in any shape
| or form They wished to mainta the union
| just it was but they meant the union to he a
| real one of hearts and minds. and they did not
| understand that, without homo rule, such
union is impossible. 1t has taken eight months
to demons trate the obvious truth that q people
! must be governed either with their consent oil
without it. One DECEPTION has been effectuaily
nailed, and when the next election comes the
electors will understand. great deal better thar
they did last July, what it is they are voting
for"